Grave-lining.



J. M. & W. I. DODDRIDGE.

GRAVE LINING.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 10l 1908.

Patented June 15, 1909.

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UNITED STATES MALIENT OFFTOE.

JAMES M. DODDRIDGE AND WILBUR l. DODDRIDGE, OF MILTON, INDIANA.

GRAVE-LININ G.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that we, JAMEs M. Donnnrnon and WILBUR I. DODDRIDGE, citizens of the United States, residing at Milton, in. the county of vWayne and State of indiana, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Grave-linings, ol' which the following is a full, clear, and comprehensive specilication.

Our present invention relates to grave linings, and the object, broadly s eaking, is to provide a grave lining which will be neat and attractive in appearance, easily placed in position, and which will effectually cover the vault and the bare earth caused by forming the grave.

A further object is to provide a grave lining formed of a single thickness of fabric, arranged to be artistic in appearance, which should be part of the casket outfit, and intended to be used but the one time.

Other objects and particular advantages will be made clear in the following specification, and the points which are new will be correlated i-n the appended claims.

The construction and ada tation of our invention is shown most clear y in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l shows a longitudinal section of a grave and showing our invention in position therein. Fig. 2 shows a top or plan view of an open grave also with our invention in operative position. And Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the reverse or back of a portion of the invention.

Similar reference characters denote like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In order that our invention may be more fully understood and that its advantages may be fully appreciated we will now take up the description thereof in concrete detail and will refer to the several features thereof as briefly and as comprehensively as we may.

In the drawings the letter A denotes the earth in which the grave B is excavated in the usual manner, it being customary to form an offset or ledge b, as indicated, which ledge should be on a level with the top of the box or casket which may be placed in the grave. After the grave has been formed as shown and the earth removed then our invention is brought into use. The invention proper comprises four sections, more or less, each formed of fabric, these sections being designated by the numerals l, 2, 3 and 4.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led March l0, 1908.

Patented June 15, 1909.

Serial No. 420,283.

The sections l and 2 are of a width such as to reach from end to end of the grave, while the sections 3 and 4L are of a width such as to reach across the grave. All of said sections are of such length as to extend out and over the edge of the grave and to project down and onto the bottom of the grave, sub stantially as indicated. The upper edge of each section is gathered and ruiiied, and at the base of each ruffle there is stitched a tape, as for instance the tape 5 shown in Fig. 3. Said tape being secured at one of its edges only and attached to the back of its section as indicated in Fig. 3. The utility of the tape 5 is three-fold: It holds plaiting of the ruffle in position positively; its ends provide means for securing the ends of two sections together; and, primarily, it affords means for securing the sections to the earth,-the ruflie serving to cover said securing means. The said tapes may be secured to the earth by s ikes 6, as indicated in Fig. 2, the spikes eing pressed down through the tape and extending into the earth, after which the ruffle will extend thereover to hide the spikes and the tape from view. A plurality of rows of plaiting should be formed across each section, as indicated, in order to give an artistic effect, and prevent the fabric from being stretched out tight.

After the casket has been placed in the grave then the upper edges of the sections may be entirely removed or released and folded in over the casket, or the box, as desired.

Various forms of decoration may be given to the sections in order to give the artistic effect desired.

It should be understood that the four sections described are identical with each other, except as to width, and if desired the four sections may be formed integral with each other. Extending up from the lower edge of each end portion of each section is a slit, as the slit f shown in Fig. 3, which should be located the same distance from the sides of the section as is the width of the ledge b, in order that the section may neatly fit over said offset in the grave.

Having now fully shown and described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States,

1. A grave lining comprising in combination, a plurality of sections formed wholly of fabric and adapted to extend from the bottom of the greve, covering the sides and end Walls thereof, and extending out on the surfece of the ground therefrom, a tape secured to the underside and near the outer edge thereof, a ruffle formed by the outwardly extending upper portion of the lining, series of plaiting formed throughout the extent of each section, and Ineens for securing the sections in position Without the employment of e frame or the like, all substantially as set forth.

2. A franieless lining for graves, comprising a plurality of fabricated sections each formed With series of pleiting throughout their extent, a ruHle formed of the upper p0rtion of each section, means for fitting the sections over an offset in the grave, a tape secured at the bese of ruilie of each section and located on the underside of its section, and heeded pins inserted through seid tapes to retain the section in position With the surface of the ground, all substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto subscribed our naines to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JAMES M. DODDRIDGE. WILBUR I. DODDRIDGE.

Witnesses J. T. LANT@ L. l). ZELLER. 

